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Nico and Pickles have been together for nearly six months now, and them moving in with each other was a quick decision made on their parts. However, finally living under the same roof, sharing the same bed every night, somehow that makes everything feel ten times more real. When Nico wakes up to Pickles in his arms. Especially since it’s Christmas time, Pickles’s favorite time of year. Pickles had fallen into the Christmas Spirit a few weeks before the actual holiday and that’s all he’s been able to talk about since.
So it comes to no surprise when Nico is jolted awake at a crisp six in the morning by Pickles shaking him awake. Nico looks around, panicked at first, before realizing it’s Pickles. He sighs heavily, sitting up as he turns on his bedside lamp, rubbing his neck as Pickles tugs on his arm, trying to pull him away towards the main area.
“Pickles,” Nico yawns, “It’s too early for this, babe.”
Pickles stops tugging on his arm, staring at him blankly. Nico rubs his eyes, looking at Pickles. He notices how Pickles is sitting on his knees on the bed, playing with his fingers while he avoids eye contact. Nico sighs, he’s age regressed right now. Nico smiles warmly, slipping out of bed despite his body’s demands for more sleep. He walks to Pickles’s side of the bed, extending his hand slowly to offer. Pickles’s eyes trail from Nico’s fingertips up to his soft face.
“Come on, buddy,” Nico says softly, “Let’s go see what Santa brought you.”
Pickles jumps up quickly, snatching Nico’s hand as he drags him into the main area. Nico turns on the lights while Pickles sits in front of the little tree they’d ended up buying a month ago. It’s not a lot, neither is their apartment, but it’s something for them to celebrate with and that’s better than nothing. Nico yawns, walking into the kitchen area, grabbing his vape off the counter. He pulls it to his lips slowly, inhaling as he stares at the tile. His first Christmas not alone in…. Well, Nico can’t even count how long it’s been. But it’s been far too long.
Nico turns around, looking at Pickles who is staring at him eagerly, waiting for his presents. Nico smiles warmly, tossing his vape onto the counter. He walks up to Pickles, grabbing a couple of presents from under the tree. He’d gotten Pickles two sets of gifts, one set for when he’s little– like he is right now– and then one set for when he’s big. He wrapped the presents for when Pickles is little in some Paw Patrol wrapping paper, just because Pickles loves watching anything to do with dogs. Nico hands one of the gifts to Pickles before sitting down on the couch slowly.
“Go for it,” Nico instructs, watching as Pickles tears into the wrapping paper. He rips it aggressively, tossing it aside as he bounces with excitement. Pickles squeals with delight– one of the few noises he makes when he’s little– as he pulls the extra wrapping paper off the Spider Man pajamas that Nico had scoured the stores for. He smiles, hugging them tightly before looking up at Nico, using his hand to mimic the web-shooting motion at Nico.
“Yeah,” Nico laughs, “He’s your favorite, isn’t he?”
Pickles nods quickly, pulling his thumb to his mouth as he chews it slowly, looking at the pajamas. He runs a hand over them slowly, clearly enamored with his gift. Nico nods his head towards a larger gift before he whispers, “There’s another one for you, bud.”
Pickles looks over, dropping his pajamas as he scoots over, grabbing it. His eyes widen as he stares at it, blinking ever so slowly. His hands vibrate with anticipation before he rips into the wrapping paper, tearing it apart. He makes a mess, throwing the wrapping paper everywhere before he stops, staring at the gift in his lap. He tosses it aside, quickly hugging Nico who’s caught off guard by this. Nico hugs him back slowly as Pickles squeezes him tightly.
“Glad you like it, buddy,” Nico smiles, knowing full well that it cost half of his paycheck. Pickles slides back down to the floor as he dusts off the oversized goose plushie. He kisses it, before hugging it. He flaps its wings playfully as he shows it to Nico who just smiles with approval. Pickles is clearly satisfied with his gifts. Hopefully he likes his other set of gifts just as much.
“How about breakfast?” Nico offers as he stands up and Pickles nods quickly. Nico walks to the kitchen, smiling to himself as he hits his vape again before he grabs a few eggs from the fridge. Omelets on Christmas morning sound more than perfect. He looks over his shoulder at Pickles as he plays on the floor. Nico sighs, sometimes life just feels so warm, so perfect.